Central City Productions completed the taping of the 2018 Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. The annual show hailed as an, “epic night in gospel music,” was hosted by Kirk Franklin. The telecast will premiere on TV One, Good Friday, March 30, at 9/8c . Additionally, the Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication March 31-May 6, 2018.
This year’s spectacular show open featured Stellar Awards alum Erica Campbell reuniting with her sister Tina Campbell as the hit gospel duo Mary Mary for the first time in more than six years. The show also included an all-star tribute to the late, great Edwin Hawkins, with his sister Lynette Hawkins accepting the Edwin Hawkins Icon Award in his honor. Also, a stand out moment featured the multi-platinum award-winning Snoop Dogg performing material from his new gospel album, “Bible of Love.”
The night included performances by Snoop Dogg, Mary Mary, Kierra Sheard, Torri Kelly, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Anthony Brown, JJ Hairston, Travis Greene, Jonathan McReynolds, Ricky Dillard, Todd Dulaney, Tasha Page Lockhart, KeKe Wyatt, Canton Jones, Deitrick Haddon, Koryn Hawthorne, Le’Andria Johnson and more. Special presenters included Donnie McClurkin, Merle Dandridge, David Mann, Anika Noni Rose and more.
Top winners of the night were JJ Hairston winning six awards, Travis Greene and Tasha Cobbs Leonard winning four awards each and Anthony Brown winning two awards.
Don Jackson bestowed special honors upon gospel greats who have made significant contributions to the genre. The incomparable Tamela Mann was the 2018 recipient of the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award and the legendary Rev. Milton Biggham received The Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award. Stellar Honors Hall of Fame Inductees includes Kurt Carr, Ben Tankard, and Dr. Marabeth Gentry – President of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses.
The Stellar Awards telecast will premiere on TV One on Friday, March 30 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and air in broadcast syndication on 130 stations in more than 110 markets around the country March 31 – May 6, 2018. For more information visit us at www.thestellarawards.com.
Below is a list of the 2018 Stellar Award Winners
Category #1 – ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration
Category #2 – SONG OF THE YEAR
- David Bloom, Cortez Vaughn, Phontane Demond Reed & JJ Hairston, You Deserve It (JJ Hairston & YouthfulPraise), JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
Category #3 – MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #4 – ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel
CATEGORY #5 – DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
CATEGORY #6 – NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Isabel Davis, The Call, Uncle G Records
CATEGORY #7- CD OF THE YEAR
- – You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
CATEGORY #8 – CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- – JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
CATEGORY #9 – PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City,RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #10 – CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
CATEGORY #11 – TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
- – The Rance Allen Group, Live from San Francisco, Tyscot Records
CATEGORY #12 – CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #13 – TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Close, Verity/RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #14 – CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel
CATEGORY #15 – TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- CeCe Winans, Let them Fall in Love, Pure Springs Gospel
CATEGORY #16 – CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
- – Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel
CATEGORY #17 – TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
- Close, Marvin Sapp, Verity/RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #18 – URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- – You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
CATEGORY #19 – MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- – Derek Blanks, We Livin – It’s Still Personal (Tina Campbell), Gee Tree Creative/Malaco
CATEGORY #20 – TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- – Bishop Paul S. Morton, Legacy Live in New Orleans, Tehillah Music Group/Entertainment One
CATEGORY #21 – CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
CATEGORY #22 – INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR
- Kirk Whalum, #LoveCovers, Top Drawer Records
CATEGORY #23 – SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
- Greenleaf Soundtrack Season 2, Various Artists, RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #24 – RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- Greatness, Canton Jones, Radar Live/Cajo Records
CATEGORY #25 – YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- God’s Little Soldiers International Boys Choir, Through the Years, DIR/Motor City Praise
CATEGORY #26 – QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- The Williams Brothers, Timeless, Blackberry Records
CATEGORY #27 – RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- Derek Blanks, Heart. Passion. Pursuit (Tasha Cobbs Leonard), Motown Gospel
CATEGORY #28 – PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
- You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
